Despite a Church spokesman having said that the results of the archepiscopal election would be known by six o’clock, the information comes in the form of an exit poll rather than an official statement. And the exit poll shows the two pro- Russian candidates well in front with Athanasios, Bishop of Limassol, a city noted for its Russian citizens, well in the lead. Find it astonishing that there are exit polls and try to inagine the cardinals in Rome confessing their choices to eagerly waiting news reporters, microphones at the ready, instead of waiting decorously for the white smoke.
By evening the Cyprus Mail is ready to list the top three, Ahanasios well in the lead. And not missing a trick. Knowing full well that the Holy Synod has some tradition of choosing a candidate that can unify rather than supporting one side of the Russia/Ukraine split, he is quoted as saying that “ although the Holy Synod allowed the people to pick the top three they can be counted on to chose the most suitable as Archbishop because they are wise”. A word to the wise indeed - the Holy Synod is not compelled to accept the people’s first choice but surely he would not reject their wisdom.